Alumni Awards

The David L. Rice Alumni Achievement Award at the University of Southern Indiana recognizes exceptional alumni who have made significant contributions to their profession, community, and the university. It honors individuals who exemplify excellence, integrity and service, serving as role models for future generations of students and alumni. The recipient delivers a speech at the Spring Commencement ceremony.

2024

• Shane M. Dearing '07 
• Dr. Sandra Hall '05
• Shan Sherwan Hussein '14 M'15
• Dr. Kimberly R. McElroy-Jones M'13
• Dr. Robin M. Verble '06  

2023

• Matthew S. Keener '05 M'12
• Virgilio E. Paulino '18
• Jared R. McIntosh '11
• Colonel Connie L. Winik M'08 D'17
• Breasha L. Pruitt '08

2022

• Justin M. Groenert M'16
• Kester A. Phillips '02
• James W. Beck '92
• Janet Heldt Baas '86

2021

No recipients due to the Covid-19 Pandemic

2020

No recipients due to the Covid-19 Pandemic

2019

• Amy L. Beard '09
• Stanley J. Tretter M'17
• Wayne S. Trockman '81
• B.J. Watts '01
• Donna M. White D'16

2018

• Patricia S. Avery '04
• Marshall L. Byers '94
• Kimberly J. Harper '87 '13
• Kirt A. Page '98  

2017

• Joshua F. Bowman ’09
• Nitin V. Naidu ’00
• Hans R. Schneider ’01
• Amy Jo Sheeley ’01 '05 M'06
• Jennifer C. Wright ’03

2016

• Becky J. Boling ’75
• Lisa R. Gish ’00 M’04
• Danyelle E. Granger M’06
• Robert A. Hon ’89
• Eileen M. Weber ’98

2015

• Lisa F. Hancock '97
• Bryan R. Harper '96
• D. Keith Jewell '86 M'91
• Harolyn G. Torain '71
• Eric R. Williams '89

2014

• Donald R. Breivogel, Jr. ’83
• Jill M Chonody ’95 M’97
• Michael L. Good ’97
• Cathlin S. Gray ’85
• Tonya Heim M’03, ’08, M’09

2013

• Chad J. Hartmann '95 M'00
• Rhonda M. Brown '92
• Elizabeth J. Brown '92 M'04
• David E. Goodman '79
• Paul J. Ramsey '99

2012

• Joey V. Barnett '81
• Sheila L. Hauck M'97 D'11
• Valerie A. McKinney M'05
• J. Wayne Meriwether M'08
• Joycelyn Winnecke '82

2023 Ronald J. Boren '81
2022 Trudy J. Stock '86
2021 Michael Carroll '88
2020 Jeffrey L. Wilmes '81
2019 Kevin L. Hammett '90
2018 Randall L. Haaff '84
2017 Janet Heldt Baas '86
2016 Joey V. Barnett '81 
2015 Judy M. Morton '73
2014 Jean M. Blanton '01
2013 John M. Lawrence '73
2012 John L. Schutz '82
2011 Geoffrey A. Gentil '92
2010 Connie S. Wellmeyer '84
2009 Stephanie S. Buchanan ‘97
2008 Jamie L. Wicks ’91 M’97
2007 Donna M. Mesker ‘86
2006 Donita F. Wolf ‘83
2005 David W. Herrenbruck ‘76
         Mark A. Messmer ‘93
2004 Susan M. Knight ‘94
         Kirk W. Knight ‘93  
2003 Tina M. Kern ‘86
2002 Harolyn G. Torain ‘71
2001 Nancy S. Koehler ‘93
2000 Michelle Rooze Gilbert ‘90
1999 Eric R. Williams ‘89
1998 William J. Joergens Centennial 
1997 Carole D. Rust '77
1996 Robert W. Swan ‘72
         Daniel E. Horrell '76
1995 Gregory T. Hall '84
1994 Douglas F. Claybourn '77
1993 John L. Schutz '82
1992 Chris D. Melton '72

2023 Neal A. Franklin
2022 Robert E. Griffin
2021 Jerry Bulger
2020 Heidi Gregori-Gahan
2019 Penny S. Goshert
2018 Linda L. M. Bennett
2017 Dan M. and Janet L. Fuquay
2016 Linda L. Willis
2015 Stephen P. Small

2023 Kent W. Scheller
2022 Katie Ehlman
2021 Jill Raisor '03
2020 Ernest H. Hall
2019 Kathryn M. Waters
2018 Rick A. Hudson '02
2017 Kevin G. Celuch
2016 Glenna G. Bower '94
2015 Nancy F. Bizal
2014 Hilary A. Braysmith
2013 Craig R. Ehlen
2012 Daniel R. Craig
2011 Leonard E. Dowhie
2010 David M. Glassman
2009 Ann H. White
2008 Jeanne K. Barnett
2007 Susan Smith Wolfe
2006 Jeanette Maier-Lytle ‘88 M‘95
2005 Marjorie Olsen Labhart
2004 C. Christy Baker
2003 Jane Davis-Brezette
2002 Charles F. Petranek
2001 Larry W. Arp
2000 Joseph J. Palladino
1999 Nadine A. Coudret
1998 Howard E. Dunn
1997 Walter W. Jermakowicz
1996 John W. McNaughton
1995 Robert E. Mays
1994 Timothy B. Mahoney
1993 Sherry Bevins Darrell
1992 Deborah L. Wolf '76
         Phyllis A. Maddox '75
1991 Emmet D. Edwards
1990 James R. Blevins
1989 Charles J. Bertram
1988 Marlene V. Shaw
1987 Darrel E. Bigham
1986 Donald E. Pitzer
1985 Wanda B. Hibbitts
1984 George A. Abshier
1983 Daniel A. Miller
1982 Helen R. Sands
1981 Jackson L. Marr
1980 Melvin W. Denner

2011 Eric R.Williams '89
2010 Tracy Zeller '89
2009 W. Kerry Jackson ‘84
2008 Wayne S. Trockman ‘81
2007 Brett J. Niemeier ‘81
2006 John M. Lawrence ‘73
2005 Robert W. Swan ‘72
2004 Joycelyn Winnecke ‘82
2003 Daniel S. Hermann ‘79
2002 J. Brad Ellsworth ‘81
2001 Russell L. Stilwell ‘77
2000 Andrew B. Cassidy ‘71
1999 Cathlin S. Gray ‘85
1998 William E. Fisher ‘73
1997 Kenneth L. Sendelweck '76
1996 Rosemary Rice-Jones '76 
1995 Vaneta Becker '94
1994 Connie Dartt Romain '74
         Ronald D. Romain '73
1993 Steven K. Elliott '72
1992 Ruth Zimmerman Baize '74
1991 Joey V. Barnett '81
1990 C. Mark Hubbard Centennial
1989 Cynthia D. Alexander '73
1988 Frank F. McDonald II '73 ‘99 Honorary
1987 O. John Logsdon '73
         Suzanne E. Schnacke '75
1986 Richard M. Hyslop '71
1985 Walter R. Brunton '73
1984 Carole D. Rust '77
1983 John W. Fehrenbacher '71 ‘90 Honorary
1982 Steven K. Elliott '73
         Thomas E. Field '72
1981 Malcolm W. Fuhrer '76 Honorary
         Clinton C. Maurer
         Hugh W. Price
1980 William E Couch ‘81 Honorary
         Rebecca Nunn Couch '81 Honorary
         Aline Nunn Renner '83 Honorary
1979 Thomas J. Shetler Jr. '75
1978 Robert C. Roeder '71

2014 David R. & Vicki T. Campbell
2013 Paul J. Werner
2012 Kenneth & Nancy '83 M'95 Johnson
2011 Linda L. Cleek ''82 M'00
2010 Michael W. Whipple '75
2009 H. Ray Hoops '12 Honorary
2008 M. Edward Jones
2007 John L. Deem
2006 Suzanne A. Nicholson
2005 Richard S. Kersting
2004 Anne G. Denner ‘92
2003 James L. Will, Sr. '13 Honorary
2002 Henry W. Ruston ‘02 Honorary
2001 Richard W. Schmidt
2000 James A. Sanders ‘01 Honorary
1999 Nancy L. Johnson ‘83 M’95
1998 Carol A. Baker ’08 Honorary and Bruce H. Baker ’08 Honorary
1997 Ruth A. Waller
1996 Bettie G. Engelbrecht ’07 Honorary
1995 Trudy F. Mitchell ‘84 Honorary and William H. Mitchell ‘84 Honorary
1994 Betty J. Worthington and C. Wayne Worthington ‘80 Honorary
1993 Betty J. Rice ‘00 Honorary
1992 Cynderella McDowell Miller
1991 Byron C. Wright ‘94 Honorary
1990 Alan C. Rankin '75 Honorary
1989 Robert L. Koch '73 Honorary
1988 Michael Pugh and Albert A. Woll
1987 Robert D. Orr ‘86 Honorary
1986 Donald B. Cox ‘88 Honorary
1985 Frank F. McDonald, Sr. ‘70 Honorary
1984 Rolland M. Eckels '76 Honorary and Joseph E. O'Daniel '71 Honorary
1983 W. Harold Calloway
1982 Robert T. Harper
1981 William J. Moutoux '74 Honorary
1980 David L. Rice ‘95 Honorary
1979 Sherrianne M. Standley ’08 Honorary
1978 Donald D. Bennett
1977 Kathy Will Funke